Sauer-Danfoss Series 90 Model Code Decoder

A Sauer-Danfoss (Sundstrand) Series 90 pump model code reads left to right in fixed fields: 90 for the series, R or L for rotation, three digits for the frame size in cc per revolution, then the control, pressure regulation, auxiliary pad, end cap ports, filtration, displacement limiters, shaft, charge pump, control orifices, special hardware, the two high-pressure settings and the charge pressure setting. So 90R100 is a Series 90 pump, right-hand (clockwise) rotation, 100 cc maximum displacement.

Everything after that tells you how the pump was built, and several fields change which parts fit. This page decodes every field from the Danfoss Series 90 technical information (520L0603), works through a real nameplate code, and explains the serial number and date code, which matter for ordering parts as much as the model code does.

90 L 100 EP 1 CD 60 P 3 F1 D 03 GBA 35 35 24

The example code Danfoss prints in its Series 90 100 cc parts manual (520L0893)

Field Example Meaning Matters for parts?
Series 90 Series 90 axial piston pump Yes
R L Type and rotation, R right hand (CW), L left hand (CCW) Yes, charge pump and some internals
Size 100 Maximum displacement, cc per revolution Yes, sets almost every part
M EP Displacement control Yes, control and control seal kit
P 1 High-pressure regulation Yes, multi-function valves
J CD Auxiliary mounting pad Yes
G 60 End cap ports Yes, end cap and gasket
N P Filtration Yes
F 3 Displacement limitation Sometimes
L F1 Input shaft Yes
H D Charging system (charge pump size) Yes
T 03 Control orifices Yes, when rebuilding the control
W GBA Special hardware, mostly valve plate and sensor Yes, valve plate
Y 35 High-pressure setting, port A, in tens of bar Yes, valve cartridge setting
Z 35 High-pressure setting, port B, in tens of bar Yes, valve cartridge setting
K 24 Charge pressure setting, bar Yes, charge relief

Send the whole code, plus the date code. The model code defines the build, but Danfoss parts lists often give two or more part numbers for the same item, split by date of manufacture. Without the date code we may have to guess, and we would rather not. More on that below.

What does 90R100 mean? Frame sizes and displacement

The three digits after the rotation letter are the frame size, which is the maximum displacement in cc per revolution. Danfoss builds seven pump frames.

Code Max displacement Rated speed Max speed Base unit weight
042 42 cc (2.56 in³) 4200 rpm 4600 rpm 34 kg (75 lb)
055 55 cc (3.35 in³) 3900 rpm 4250 rpm 40 kg (88 lb)
075 75 cc (4.57 in³) 3600 rpm 3950 rpm 49 kg (108 lb)
100 100 cc (6.10 in³) 3300 rpm 3650 rpm 68 kg (150 lb)
130 130 cc (7.93 in³) 3100 rpm 3400 rpm 88 kg (195 lb)
180 180 cc (10.98 in³) 2600 rpm 2850 rpm 136 kg (300 lb)
250 250 cc (15.25 in³) 2300 rpm 2500 rpm 154 kg (340 lb)

Rated system pressure for the family is 420 bar (6000 psi), maximum 480 bar (7000 psi), per the Series 90 service manual 520L0818. Figures are from that manual's operating parameters table.

The letter after 90 on a pump is R or L. You will also see 90M on Series 90 fixed motors, which use their own code and are not decoded here.

Control codes (field M)

The two letters after the frame size tell you how the pump is stroked. This is the field that most often decides the control, the control gasket and the seal kit for the control.

Code Control
CA Cover plate, no feedback link, no control
DC 3-position F-N-R solenoid control, 12 V DC, DIN connector
DD 3-position F-N-R solenoid control, 24 V DC, DIN connector
HF HDC 2 hydraulic displacement control, standard porting, 3.0-11 bar (44-160 psi) signal
KA EDC electric displacement control, MS connector, dual coil (14-85 mA)
KN EDC, MS connector, 643 ohm single coil (4-20 mA)
KT EDC, Deutsch connector, dual coil (14-85 mA)
KP EDC, Weatherpack connector, dual coil (14-85 mA)
MA MDC manual displacement control
MB MDC with neutral start switch
FA / FB NFPE electrohydraulic control, no feedback link, 12 V / 24 V, AMP Minitimer connector, 25 bar pressure reducing valve
FC / FD NFPE, 12 V / 24 V, 32 bar pressure reducing valve
FG / FH NFPE, 12 V / 24 V, 32 bar, fast response
FK / FL NFPE, 12 V / 24 V, 25 bar (075 frame only)
FM / FN NFPE, 12 V / 24 V, 32 bar, fast response (075 frame only)

Older plates carry control codes that are not in the current list. The example code above uses EP, which the 100 cc parts manual identifies as an EDC with a Packard connector. The same manual lists EA and EH as EDC with an MS connector and EK as EDC with a Deutsch connector. If your code is not in the table, it is not a misprint. Send it to us and we will look it up against the parts manual for your frame.

High-pressure regulation (field P)

Code Meaning
1 Pressure limiter for ports A and B, 140-450 bar
2 High-pressure relief valves for ports A and B, 90-450 bar

Auxiliary mounting pad (field J)

Code Pad Frames
AB SAE-A, sealed cover, 9-tooth coupling All
BB SAE-BB, sealed cover, 15-tooth coupling All
BC SAE-B, sealed cover, 13-tooth coupling All
CD SAE-C, sealed cover, 4-bolt adapter, 14-tooth coupling 055 through 250
DE SAE-D, sealed cover, 13-tooth coupling 130, 180, 250
EF SAE-E, sealed cover, 13-tooth coupling 180, 250
NN No auxiliary mounting pad All

End cap ports (field G) and filtration (field N)

Code End cap Frames
60 Side ports 055, 075, 100
80 Twin ports All
Code Filtration Frames
D External charge pump All
L Pressure filter, integral, long filter 042 through 130
P Pressure filter, integral, short filter 042 through 130
R Remote pressure filtration 055 through 130
T Remote pressure, SAE 1-1/16 thread ports for high flow 180, 250
S Suction filtration All

Displacement limitation (field F)

Code Meaning
3 No limiters (not offered on 180)
4 Limiters on both sides (not offered on 180)
C No limiters, 180 cc only
M Limiters on both sides, 180 cc only
7 No limiters, special servo cylinder on side 1 with hard spring, NFPE controls only

Input shaft (field L)

Code Shaft Frames
C3 Splined, 15 teeth, 16/32 pitch 042
C6 Splined, 21 teeth, 16/32 pitch 055, 075, 100
C7 Splined, 23 teeth, 16/32 pitch 075, 100
C8 Splined, 27 teeth, 16/32 pitch 130, 180, 250
F1 Splined, 13 teeth, 8/16 pitch 100, 130, 180, 250
S1 Splined, 14 teeth, 12/24 pitch 055, 075, 100
G1 Splined, 25 teeth, 20/40 pitch 075, 100
T8 Tapered, 25.400 mm (1.000 in) diameter 042
T1 Tapered, 34.925 mm (1.375 in) diameter 055, 075
T6 Tapered, 38.100 mm (1.500 in) diameter 075, 100
T4 Tapered, 44.450 mm (1.750 in) diameter 130

Charging system (field H)

This letter is the size of the charge pump on the back of the pump, or a note that charge comes from outside.

Code Charge pump Frames
B 11 cc/rev 042, 055
C 14 cc/rev 042, 055, 075
D 17 cc/rev 055, 075, 100
E 20 cc/rev 075, 100
F 26 cc/rev 100, 130
H 34 cc/rev 130, 180
J 47 cc/rev 180, 250
K 65 cc/rev 250
L External charge pump, internal charge relief, unit has an auxiliary pad All
N External charge pump, internal charge relief, unit has no auxiliary pad All except 055

Control orifices (field T)

Two characters that set the orifices in the control. They change how fast the pump strokes, and the code only makes sense together with the control type in field M. Sizes are in millimeters.

Control Code Inlet P Drains Servo A / B
MDC 00 None 1.6 (hole in spool, no orifice fitted) None
03 0.81 1.6 (hole in spool) None
05 1.37 1.6 (hole in spool) None
C5 0.81 1.4 None
C6 1.02 1.4 None
EDC 00 None 1.3 None
03 0.81 1.3 None
05 1.37 1.3 None
33 0.81 None None
FNR G1 None 1.2 None
G4 0.46 1.2 None
G8 0.66 1.2 None
GB 0.81 1.2 None
GD 1.57 1.2 None
HDC 00 None 1.3 None
03 0.81 1.3 None
05 1.37 1.3 None
NFPE B1 None 1.5 None
B2 None None 1.2 / 1.2
B6 None None None

Special hardware (field W)

Three letters, mostly describing the valve plate, which is a rotating group part, so this field matters when you rebuild.

Code Meaning
EEG Speed ring, no sensor, CP30 +4.3° valve plate
EFC Speed sensing, Turck connector (KPPx156), CP15 +0.5° valve plate
EFI Speed sensing, Turck connector (KPPx156), CP30 +4.3° valve plate
FAC Nested T-bar springs, CP15 +1.5° valve plate
FAD Nested T-bar springs, CP15 +0.5° valve plate
GBA CP15 +0.5° valve plate
GCA CP15 +1.5° valve plate
GLA CP30 +4.3° valve plate
NNN 180 cc: CP15 +0.5° valve plate. 250 cc: CP15 +1.5° valve plate, nested T-bar springs

High-pressure settings (fields Y and Z) and charge pressure (field K)

The last three groups are settings, not hardware, and they are the ones a mechanic reads most often.

Field Codes Meaning
Y, port A 26 32 35 38 40 42 260, 320, 350, 380, 400 or 420 bar
Z, port B 26 32 35 38 40 42 260, 320, 350, 380, 400 or 420 bar
K, charge 20 through 34 in steps of 2 Charge relief setting in bar. 32 is not offered on the 250, and 34 is not offered on the 042 or the 250.

The service manual explains how to read them in the field. The high-pressure setting is the factory preset of the pressure limiter in each multi-function valve, and it is referenced to charge pressure, so it is the difference between the high and low sides of the loop. The charge setting is referenced to case pressure. Danfoss's measured ranges at 1500 rpm in neutral are 18.1-21.7 bar (262-315 psi) for code 20, 22.0-26.9 bar (319-390 psi) for code 24 and 25.8-30.7 bar (374-445 psi) for code 28. If your drive has a problem, our hydrostatic troubleshooting guide walks through those checks.

Worked example: 90L100 EP 1 CD 60 P 3 F1 D 03 GBA 35 35 24

This is the nameplate code Danfoss uses as its example in the Series 90 100 cc pump parts manual (520L0893). Decoded against the tables above:

Field Code This pump
Series 90 Series 90 pump
Rotation L Left hand, counterclockwise
Size 100 100 cc (6.10 in³) per revolution
Control EP EDC electric displacement control, Packard connector (not in the 2016 master list, but listed in the parts manual)
Pressure regulation 1 Pressure limiters on ports A and B
Auxiliary pad CD SAE-C pad, 4-bolt adapter, 14-tooth coupling
End cap 60 Side ports
Filtration P Integral pressure filter, short
Displacement limiters 3 None
Shaft F1 13-tooth 8/16 pitch spline
Charge pump D 17 cc/rev
Control orifices 03 EDC: 0.81 mm inlet, 1.3 mm drains
Special hardware GBA CP15 +0.5° valve plate
High pressure A / B 35 35 350 bar both sides
Charge pressure 24 24 bar setting, measured 22.0-26.9 bar (319-390 psi) at 1500 rpm in neutral

Danfoss uses the same code to show how a part is found: the shaft field reads F1, so you go to the shaft group in the parts list, find order code F1, and that gives the item and part number for the drive shaft. Every module on a Series 90 parts list is keyed to a field of the model code in exactly this way, which is why the full code saves so much back and forth. (The manual's step text calls the shaft code "S1" in one place, but the code itself and the next step both read F1.)

Serial number and date code: why they matter for parts

The nameplate carries three identifiers, and they do different jobs.

Nameplate field What it is Example
Model code Defines the unit completely. Danfoss says to use it when ordering service parts. 90L100 EP 1 CD 60 P 3 F1 D 03 GBA 35 35 24
Model number (Ident number) The factory's manufacturing number. A complete repeat unit can be ordered by it. 9621161
Serial number Plant letter, two-digit year, two-digit week, then a five-digit sequence number A-01-26-23456

The letter at the start of the serial number is the place of assembly. The name plates in the Sauer-Sundstrand Series 90 service manual (BLN-9947, copyright 1987-1998) show A on a plate marked Ames, Iowa, U.S.A., and N on a plate marked Neumünster, Germany. The year and week that follow are the build date.

That date is the date code, and it is the part people skip. Danfoss parts lists frequently show the same item number with different part numbers for different build dates. The 100 cc parts manual's own example is the end cap gasket, item G30: units with a date code before 89-17 take part number 8000151, and units from 89-17 on take 8000243. Same pump, same model code, different gasket. Our Sundstrand and Sauer-Danfoss identification guide shows the same pattern in the Series 18 parts list, and it is the single biggest reason a wrong Sundstrand part gets shipped.

Photograph the whole plate. A model code typed from memory loses the date code and usually a field or two. A clear picture of the plate gets the right part first time.

Older Sundstrand and Sauer-Sundstrand Series 90 numbering

Series 90 literature has been published under Sauer-Sundstrand, Sauer-Danfoss and Danfoss names, and a unit's plate carries whichever name applied when it was built. The field order of the model code carried through, but older plates look different in a few ways:

  • Single-character fields. The sample pump plate in BLN-9947 reads 90L055 EA 1 N 6 S 3 C6 C 03 HNN 35 35 24. The auxiliary pad and end cap print as one character each (N and 6) where current codes print two (CD and 60 in our example). Read it field by field in the same order and it lines up.
  • Retired codes. EA and HNN on that plate do not appear in the 2016 master code. The parts manuals still list many retired codes, so an old code is not a sign of a fake or a misread plate.
  • Different model number formats. The same BLN-9947 plates show a U.S. model number written as 94-2029 and a German Ident number as six digits (687459). Newer Danfoss literature shows plain six- or seven-digit model numbers (501829 on the sample plate in the 2016 technical information, 9621161 in the 100 cc parts manual), so read whatever format is on your plate and send it as printed.

If you have an older plate that does not fit any of this, send us a photo. We would rather look at it than have you guess.

Series 90 parts and seal kits

Frequently asked questions

How do I read a Sauer-Danfoss Series 90 model code?

Read it left to right in fixed fields: 90 for the series, R or L for rotation, three digits for frame size in cc, then control, pressure regulation, auxiliary pad, end cap ports, filtration, displacement limiters, shaft, charge pump, control orifices, special hardware, high-pressure settings for ports A and B, and the charge pressure setting.

What does 90R100 mean?

A Series 90 pump with right-hand (clockwise) rotation and 100 cc (6.10 cubic inches) maximum displacement per revolution. Danfoss rates the 100 frame at 3300 rpm, with a 3650 rpm maximum.

What do the last numbers on a Series 90 model code mean?

The last three groups are settings. The first two are the high-pressure settings for ports A and B in tens of bar, so 35 is 350 bar. The final two digits are the charge pressure setting in bar, from 20 to 34.

What frame sizes does the Series 90 pump come in?

Seven: 042, 055, 075, 100, 130, 180 and 250, which are the maximum displacements in cc per revolution, from 2.56 to 15.25 cubic inches.

Where is the date code on a Series 90 pump?

In the serial number on the nameplate. After the plant letter come a two-digit year and a two-digit week of manufacture, then a sequence number. Parts lists use that year and week to pick between part numbers for the same item.

What do EDC, MDC, HDC, FNR and NFPE mean on a Series 90?

They are control types. EDC is electric displacement control, MDC is manual displacement control, HDC is hydraulic displacement control, FNR is a 3-position forward-neutral-reverse solenoid control, and NFPE is an electrohydraulic control without a feedback link.

About the technical information on this page. Figures, procedures and part numbers here come from manufacturer service literature and are provided for reference only. They are only as accurate as the factory data, and the revision we have on file may not be the latest for your unit. Always confirm against the current manufacturer documentation for your exact model and follow safe work practices. RestoPower is not responsible for damage, injury or loss resulting from the use or misuse of this information, or from incorrect assembly, adjustment, installation or operation of any unit.

Send the full code and the date code

Give us every field from the nameplate, the serial number, and what the machine is. With the code and the date we can match seal kits, shafts and control parts to your build. We reply with price, availability and lead time.

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